Ale Of A Tale

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Recently 7,000 American sailors and Marines visited Iceland's capital city of Reykjavik as part of NATO’s Trident Juncture military exercise. Within a matter of hours, Iceland was facing a national crisis as the visiting swabbies and jarheads immediately set about visiting the local taverns, where they quickly consumed much of that city's beer supply.

Local news in Reykjavik reported that the sailors and Marines preferred local beers over imports, and were very willing to sample different microbrews as well as the more popular standard lagers. One restaurant, Sæta Svínið, and good luck pronouncing that, was one of the first to run out of beer and tried borrowing from other businesses that were better stocked, but the Americans proved too many.

As beer supplies in the city's various watering holes started drying up, owners who said they had never experienced such an assault on their ale supply, put out a beer distress signal. One of Iceland’s local breweries, Ölgerð Egils Skallagrímssonar, answered the call and immediately began working overtime to distribute emergency beer shipments that could furnish the parched Americans with sustenance.

When the ships finally departed Reykjavík, the city with a population of about 120,000 in a country with just under 340,000, was finally able to breathe, their stock of ale and lager replenished. Iceland had survived the assault, the Americans having drank their fill with no reports or complaints of overindulgent debauchery — a true success story, so much so that many of the city's bar owners were later seen gathering down at the seaside with smiles on their faces praying to Poseidon, the God of the Sea, to return the thirsty American brewski-loving minions to their shores again....as soon as possible!

As I get older, I am prone to my fair share of physical ailments and, as a result, I am continually engaged in a battle of wills with my daughter Victoria, an avowed vegetarian, about my diet which, truth be told, would drive any sane dietician insane. Yes, I am a meat lover, an avowed carnivore with the exception of venison, which I avoid since I was emotionally devastated as a child when my parents took me to see the Disney movie Bambi and I witnessed, albeit offscreen, the hunter intentionally shoot and kill the young buck's mother. I actually also avoid rabbit because of the similar distress suffered when I had to endure Glen Close kill and boil a cute little bunny in Fatal Attraction.

I have attempted to explain to Vicki that the word "vegetarian" is naught but an old Indian term used to describe a poor hunter within the tribe. Furthermore, my ancestors did not claw their way to the top of the food chain just to make sure I ate salad. Besides, I fully consider myself to be a vegetarian by proxy. Cows eat grass and I eat them. Victoria's only response to my counter-arguments has been, "There is something seriously wrong with y ou!" Suffice it to say that, thus far, we agree to disagree.

Broad Channel's VFW Post 260 located at 713 Shad Creek Road will be hosting a "Friend in Need" fundraiser this Saturday, November 10, starting at 7 p.m. The event, featuring live entertainment by Walker, will include a door prize, raffles and refreshments. The evening will also include a $20 per ticket 50/50. You can obtain tickets for the 50/50 prior to the event by calling Margaret at 347-752-7688 or Donna at 646-696-1685. Admission is $10 per person. It's for a good cause and, as always, thank you for your support.